title: GABA, a natural immunomodulator of T lymphocytes.
abstract: gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main neuroinhibitory transmitter in the brain. Here we show that GABA in the extracellular space may affect the fate of pathogenic T lymphocytes entering the brain. We examined in encephalitogenic T cells if they expressed functional GABA channels that could be activated by the low (nM-1 microM), physiological concentrations of GABA present around neurons in the brain. The cells expressed the alpha1, alpha4, beta2, beta3, gamma1 and delta GABAA channel subunits and formed functional, extrasynaptic-like GABA channels that were activated by 1 microM GABA. 100 nM and higher GABA concentrations decreased T cell proliferation. The results are consistent with GABA being immunomodulatory.
authors.affiliation: Lund University, Diabetic Centre, CRC, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bjurstöm
authors.forename: JunYang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Junyang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ericsson
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
authors.forename: Yawei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar-Mendu
authors.forename: Shohreh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Issazadeh-Navikas
authors.forename: Bryndis
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Birnir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018682:GABA Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D046228:Microarray Analysis / Q000379:methods; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018682:GABA Agents; D018079:Receptors, GABA; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid